CAPE TOWN-A group of young women made Muizenberg proud when they were crowned as the winners of an investors challenge and secured a cheque worth R20 000 for their school.
The five learners, Azeerah Kemp, Amba Ngoy, Janelda Mayu, Thabisa Mswenya and Asathandwa Zozo, represent Muizenberg High School in this year’s annual Coronation Women’s Day Top Investor Challenge on Saturday 23 August at the Westin Hotel.
The girls range from Grade 10 to Grade 12, said the school’s head of department, Shene Franzen.
Muizenberg High School’s young learners with the cheque they won for their school. Alongside them are Principal Marlene Oliver, Thabisa Mswenya, Janelda Mayu, Amba Ngoy, Randall Lange and Shene Franzen. Absent are: Azeerah Kemp and Asathandwa Zozo. Photo: Keanan Harmse. 
The learners amazement upon hearing they were crowned the winners at the prizegiving. 
The learners with their first place cheque they won at the Westin Hotel on Saturday 23 August. Photo: supplied.
This national contest instructs learners to analyse the stock market, draw up portfolios for top brand companies and calculate risks as if they were real investors.
This year’s exercise challenged the learners to imagine South Africa was still tackling the drought battling day zero and they were given virtual capital valued at R1 million to invest and grow through making critical decisions such as which companies to choose and which to exit.
Ten schools which only included female learners across the Western Cape took part in this year’s challenge.
Muizenberg learners were given one week to complete their portfolio and display it on one page, but managed to complete the task within two to three days, recalls their accounting teacher and mentor, Randall Lange.
The judges complimented the young women on their thoughtful explanations and investment decisions through their press release congratulating them.
“Your memo was well structured, easy to follow, made good use of short- and long-term framing, and clearly set out your assumptions and possible surprises. The clear layout and confident reasoning stood out.
“On Tiger Brands, your decision to exit completely was based on the company’s reliance on water, cost pressures, and reputational risk. Overall, this was a confident and disciplined entry that combined clarity with strong reasoning,” the judges wrote.
Despite being crowning achievement on the day, Mayu says most of the group was pleasantly surprised that they won as most of them doubted their chances at winning and sat right at the back of the venue.
She was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and moved to Cape Town when she was four years old.
She says she loves mathematics and has previously scored 100% for the subject in one of her tests this year.
“We were excited that we would even be recognised as the silver winners, when we saw this wasn’t the case at the awards we all put our heads down and I said I was going to sleep.
“Then when they mentioned the gold winners I didn’t even look up until I heard Thabisa scream and saw the winners were Muizenberg High. I was so shocked, we screamed very loud. This award has really motivated me,” she said.
The group also said they avoided using artificial intelligence such as Chat GPT when they planned their portfolio.
The learners sacrificed their lunch breaks and some classes to ensure that they did enough brainstorming as they completed their portfolio, explained Lange.
Ngoy says she is Congolese and is part of the netball team, debate club and notice board committee.
“I really enjoy accounting and taking part in this competition was very inspiring and I was motivated because this is a profession I would like to pursue after school. My role in the team: I did background research on the companies to invest in as to where they’re from, how they use water consumption and how they would be affected by water loss,” she said.
Mswenya says she was born and raised in Masiphumelele.
“The only challenge for me was managing the time as to when we would complete the task as some of us had homeworks and projects, so we decided to work during breaks. On the day we arrived we thought we were just there ‘for the vibes’ and the food but one of the ladies who sat with us said we might win something. Then when I saw our school’s name, I screamed, I think I was one of the first ones who screamed. I started crying when we won and I really enjoyed networking with everyone at the event.”
She hopes to pursue a career in forensic pathology.
“This achievement is highly beneficial for our learners who can add this accomplishment to their CV’s and it will aid them when it comes to applying for tertiary education and their careers,” said Franzen.
School principal Marlene Oliver is beaming with pride for the learner’s achievements and says their award means a great deal for their school.
“I’m extremely proud of these learners. Not only did they represent Muizenberg High proudly, they showcased determination, hard work and innovation and they have given so much hope to the young ladies at the school and the accounting and commerce department,” she said.
Mayu says this exercise has inspired her to pursue a career in business studies and commerce.
